Off-grid site report

Custer County, OK

35.6650, -98.8831 · 1,788 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Custer County, OK, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Rules change, and the deciding facts on any specific parcel (setbacks, perc results, overlay districts, deed restrictions, road frontage) live at the county or town office, not in any database. Before you buy land or build, confirm the current rules directly with the local zoning and health offices - the sources on this page tell you exactly who to call.

The local rulesCuster County, OK

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedCuster County has an adopted countywide Zoning Resolution. Farming, ranching, one dwelling, and accessory buildings are allowed by right; other uses need a Special Use Permit or PUD from the Board of County Commissioners after Planning Commission review, and a zoning permit is required before building.

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyThe Zoning Resolution defines manufactured homes, RVs, and 'self-contained' units, but specific countywide standards for tiny homes or RVs-as-residence were not confirmed in available text. Inside Weatherford or Clinton city limits, separate municipal rules apply and were not confirmed here. source

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedCuster County has not adopted a building code and does not require building permits in unincorporated areas, only a zoning permit plus a right-of-way encroachment permit if applicable. Setbacks and a height limit still apply per the county's homeowner packet. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedThe county administers its own On-Site Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS) Regulations through Planning & Zoning on behalf of the Board of Health, and a completed septic permit plus proof of water source is required before a zoning/dwelling permit is issued. Statewide, Oklahoma DEQ sets the underlying onsite wastewater code; composting toilet allowances under county rules are not confirmed, so ask Planning & Zoning directly.

Greywater reuse

Generally allowedNo Custer County-specific greywater ordinance was found, so the Oklahoma state baseline applies, which generally permits greywater reuse for irrigation without a permit.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricting rainwater harvesting was found; the Oklahoma state baseline treats non-potable rainwater collection as legal without a permit.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedThe Oklahoma Water Resources Board, not the county, governs wells. Domestic use, including household needs, limited livestock, and small garden irrigation, does not require an OWRB permit, though the county still requires proof of an adequate water source for a dwelling permit. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyUnincorporated Custer County has no building code or utility-hookup mandate tied to a certificate of occupancy, so living off-grid appears workable there, but Weatherford, Clinton, and Arapaho set their own municipal rules inside city limits that were not separately confirmed.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.8 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 4.5 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,628 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 32 in/yr
Snowfall: 7 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,034 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 10 to Oct 27

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital AllianceHealth Clinton: 12.2 mi
Fire station: none within range
Hardware store Sutherlands: 13.0 mi
Grocery United Supermarket: 12.2 mi

From OpenStreetMap. Road miles will be longer, often much longer in hill country.

Plan this spot

These open with this location's real numbers already filled in (ZIP 73639).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

Sources: US Census Bureau geocoder; NLR PVWatts v8 (solar); NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 climate normals (nearest station) or Open-Meteo (ZIP-centroid) for weather; Open-Elevation; OpenStreetMap contributors. Public data retrieved Aug 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.